Appearance money?

Q: I wonder if you know how much the top players receive by just showing up in Malaysia this week. I am just curious about how much money it takes to lure guys like Phil, Sergio, and Keegan to such a remote location.

A: Technically, they don't get anything.

The CIMB Classic in Malaysia is an official PGA Tour event, and the PGA Tour does not officially allow tournaments to offer appearance money for player to simply show up and play. Many players played in Malaysia because they were headed to China for the HSBC Champions event in China the next week anyway.

That's the official story. The truth is a little more obvious.

Even if the PGA Tour isn't doling out the $500,000, $1 million or even $2 million checks that some European events hand out in appearance money, there are ways for players to receive sums of money for being around PGA Tour events and then just playing in the event since they are in the area anyway.

From clinics to public appearances for sponsors, players do get money for heading toward PGA Tour events. Some tournaments on the tour are more notorious for handing out such money than others. But technically, players can not receive money for just showing up to PGA Tour events.

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Appearance money?

Q: I wonder if you know how much the top players receive by just showing up in Malaysia this week. I am just curious about how much money it takes to lure guys like Phil and Sergio to such a location.